Apparatus for Cooling Beverages

ABSTRACT

A beverage cooling device to cool the beverage by a cooling liquid may include a container to cool the beverage and a coil to extend into and out of the container. The beverage may be coffee. The cooling fluid may be water. The container may hold the beverage. The coil may extend through a sidewall of the container. The coil may include an input and an output and wherein the input and output extend over the sidewall of the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cooling devices and more particularlyto an apparatus for cooling beverages.

BACKGROUND

There are almost an infinite number of beverages which are beingconsumed by today's consumer. Furthermore, it seems that more and morebeverages are being made available for the consumer today. Some of thesebeverages are best consumed hot while others are best consumed cold.

A problem with cooling a beverage is dilution. While it is possible toplace a beverage into a relatively cold environment such as arefrigerator, such a procedure usually involves a long amount of time inorder to cool the beverage. In many instances, it is desirable to coolthe beverage more rapidly. One solution is to place ice into thebeverage, and as the ice melts, the beverage will be cooled. However, anundesirable consequence of melting ice is that the beverage will bediluted as the ice melts. This dilution may significantly change thetaste of the beverage and result in a less desirable beverage.

One particular example is iced coffee. Coffee must be brewed at a nearboiling temperature in order to separate the coffee flavor from thecoffee beans. Placing the warm coffee in a refrigerator until it is coolis not a desirable solution because the length of time may change theflavor of the coffee. Additionally, placing ice into the warm coffeewill dilute the taste of the coffee which will result in an undesirabletaste.

Consequently, there is a need for an apparatus to cool or warm abeverage without the need for adding ice to the beverage.

SUMMARY

A beverage cooling device to cool the beverage by a cooling liquid mayinclude a container to cool the beverage and a coil to extend into andout of the container.

The beverage may be coffee.

The cooling fluid may be water.

The container may hold the beverage.

The container may hold the cooling fluid.

The coil may extend through a sidewall of the container.

The coil may include an input and an output and wherein the input andoutput extend over the sidewall of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cooling beverage device ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the cooling beveragedevice of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cooling beverage deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the cooling beverage device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the cooling beverage device of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to the cooling of hot beverages which may includeiced coffee. Coffee is a beverage that is brewed hot. After coffee isbrewed, there is usually a cooling process implemented to reach adesired drinking temperature. There are several methods of cooling a cupof coffee, the simplest being the addition of ice cubes. This method canresult in dilution of the beverage to the point where the consumer is nolonger satisfied with the flavor. Another method of cooling is to placethe beverage in a container under ambient conditions, or in a coolingenvironment such as a refrigerator or freezer. This process may beundesirable because the process may leave the consumer waiting, as thebeverage requires a predetermined time to cool via natural convection.The present invention described below is an alternative that will allowany user to make undiluted iced coffee in less time than conventionalmethods.

The present invention may include a container 101 to hold a reservoir ofa cool fluid which may be a liquid, and a thermally-conductive coil 103which may be a spiral of tubing to form a beverage passageway for thebeverage which may be coffee to pass through and release the excess heatfrom the beverage. The coil 103 may be wound in a helix or other mannerthrough the interior near the periphery of the container 101 from top tobottom. At the bottom of the reservoir, the end of the coil 103 mayeither extend back to the top as illustrated in FIG. 3, or may extendthrough an aperture 105 in the sidewall 107 near the bottom wall 109 asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 attached by a bulk head union or otherdevice to prevent the reservoir from leaking. The aperture 105 may be inthe bottom wall 109.

The proposed method of chilling a beverage can be performed in at leastone of two ways:

The container 101 which may include reservoir may contain the actualbeverage to be cooled illustrated in FIG. 1.

-   -   Cool fluid which may be water flows through the coil 103 from an        external source, such as another reservoir.    -   The coffee which may be in the container 101 is cooled to a        desirable temperature by conductive heat transfer.

The container 101 of the reservoir may contain a cool fluid such aswater illustrated in FIG. 2.

-   -   Coffee flows from the top of the container to the bottom of the        container and is cooled by the reservoir via the thermally        conductive coil.    -   The coffee is cooled to a desirable temperature by conductive        heat transfer.

These above described methods or processes rely on the pressuredifference in height (gravity) to drive the liquid in the passagewayfrom the top of the container 101 to the bottom of the container 101within the coil 103. A pump 111 may be implemented in certainconfigurations to move the fluid through the coil 103 where a higherflow rate is desired or when the flow is against gravity.

The present invention may include a shell and tube heat exchanger. Thereare other methods of transferring heat, such as plate or tubular heatexchangers, which may require extra work to disassemble for cleaning.The advantage of using the cooling coil 103 is that it does not requiredisassembly to access the chilling element which allows for easycleaning and viewing. Compared to the plate and tubular heat exchangers,both variants of the invention are easier and less expensive tomanufacture, as well as implement into a beverage system.

The coil 103 may be formed from copper, due to its high thermalconductivity, stainless steel is another option, however, any metal orother suitable material with desirable heat transfer properties for thepurpose of the invention are acceptable. Other materials, such asaluminum, are also considerable options for coil material. The onlyrequirement for material choice of the reservoir is one that, like thecoil, must be suitable for containing liquids between 0° C. and 100° C.All materials used must follow material safety guidelines, as they willbe used for containing beverages meant for consumption.

The dimensions for the present invention may be scalable to fit anybeverage system in which it is implemented or may be used in astandalone fashion.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the cooling beverage device 100which may include container 101 which may be a cylinder, rectangle orother appropriate shape having a peripheral sidewall 107 which may beconnected to a bottom wall 109. The cooling beverage device 100 mayinclude a cooling coil 103 which may form a passageway for a fluid suchas coffee or a cooling fluid such as water. The cooling coil 103 mayextend over the top edge of the sidewall 107 and may extend through areservoir which may be held by the container 101 and the cooling coil103 may spiral through the reservoir and may extend through the sidewall107 near the bottom wall 109. Alternatively, the cooling coil 103 may beconnected to a pump 111 to facilitate the flow through the cooling coil103.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cooling beverage device 100which may include container 101 which may be a cylinder, rectangle orother appropriate shape having a peripheral sidewall 107 which may beconnected to a bottom wall 109. The cooling beverage device 100 mayinclude a cooling coil 103 which may form a passageway for a fluid suchas coffee or a cooling fluid such as water. The cooling coil 103 mayextend over the top edge of the sidewall 107 and may extend through areservoir which may be held by the container 101 and the cooling coil103 may spiral through the reservoir and may extend through the sidewall107 near the bottom wall 109. Alternatively, the cooling coil 103 may beconnected to a pump 111 to facilitate the flow through the cooling coil103.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cooling beverage device100 which may include container 101 which may be a cylinder, rectangleor other appropriate shape having a peripheral sidewall 107 which may beconnected to a bottom wall 109. The cooling beverage device 100 mayinclude a cooling coil 103 which may form a passageway for a fluid suchas coffee or a cooling fluid such as water. The cooling coil 103 mayextend over the top edge of the sidewall 107 and may extend through areservoir which may be held by the container 101 and the cooling coil103 may spiral through the reservoir and may extend over the top surfaceof the sidewall 107. Alternatively, the cooling coil 103 may beconnected to a pump 111 to facilitate the flow through the cooling coil103.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the container 101 and illustrates thecoil 103. The container may include a sidewall 107 and a bottom wall109.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the container 101 and illustratesthe coil 103. The container may include a sidewall 107 and a bottom wall109.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed.

1) A beverage cooling device to cool the beverage by a cooling liquid,comprising: a container to cool the beverage; a coil to extend into andout of the container. 2) A beverage cooling device to cool the beverageby a cooling liquid as in claim 1, wherein the beverage is coffee. 3) Abeverage cooling device to cool the beverage by a cooling liquid as inclaim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is water. 4) A beverage coolingdevice to cool the beverage by a cooling liquid as in claim 1, whereinthe container holds the beverage. 5) A beverage cooling device to coolthe beverage by a cooling liquid as in claim 1, wherein the containerholds the cooling fluid. 6) A beverage cooling device to cool thebeverage by a cooling liquid as in claim 1, wherein the coil extendsthrough a sidewall of the container. 7) A beverage cooling device tocool the beverage by a cooling liquid as in claim 1, wherein the coilincludes an input and an output and wherein the input and output extendover the sidewall of the container.